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*www.sharesmarter.co.ukwww.sharesmarter.co.uk Group Sharing: A flexible approach to car sharing By Susan Baker, Sustainable Development Lead, Civil Service North East

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With every full car we can potentially take up to 3 off the road! There are over 38 million empty seats on the UKs roads every week! By car sharing you reduce the number of empty seats, decrease congestion to our roads and car parks, and reduce the negative impact on our local area from pollution and CO2 emissions. A strong car share group provides support when you need it and will also help fill up passenger seats in each car… … saving you even more money. Studies consistently show: Car sharing can reduce congestion on the roads and in our car parks; The presence of a passenger can significantly reduce the risk of road traffic accidents; Car sharers feel safer and enjoy more sociable journeys to and from work; And those taking part can save up to £1,000 per year each!

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Not only does this give a more flexible approach to car sharing, it also ensures you have someone to contact if the worst should happen. Another civil servant who recently passed her driving test explained how she would feel more confident with others in the vehicle with her. Also, knowing I can fall back on someone else to do the driving in winter, when the weather is bad is a great help. explained Tracy, who visited our stall at Benton Park View. Weve been car sharing on and off for a while now, so it was great to know the lift was there when I needed it the most. Having someone else to give me a lift proved really useful when my car broke down Many of those visiting our Car Share Roadshow events really like the idea of forming their own supporting networks with a group of other civil servants, travelling the same journey in to the office. I joined a car share group, helping me find someone to drive even at short notice… My journey is no longer a lonely experience and goes a lot quicker as a result… I do car share, we currently have to pay to park outside work and it helps to split the costs…

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By having a network of cars and contacts it allows alternatives in times of leave or flexi. George Penman, HMRC Newcastle Group Sharing By already car sharing George is aware of the many benefits, and by joining a network of others he finds greater flexibility and added support, especially in times when any last minute arrangements need to be made.

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Finding others to join is easy with * Share Smarter. Simply register and populate your group direct from your home page. You can join existing groups too, and with a cluster of government offices close by your chance of finding others travelling the same route increases. Create and expand your group When you find another member to share with, put their address into the box and click new group. Expand your group with new members by giving them your group number.